Molecular and biochemical characterization
of lignocellulohydrolases
cel12B, cel8C, β-glucosidase, and peh28 from Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (Pcc) expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli) was reported in a previous
work. The current preliminary study investigates the enzymes’
catalytic performance on Rio-Red grapefruit processing waste (GPW)
conversion which can lead to the development of low-cost and effective
strategies with strain engineering and/or modified catalysts for production
of biofuel precursors. The GPW utilized for the study is known for
its low ash and lignin contents compared with corn stover, wheat straw,
and sugar cane bagasse, while yielding soluble sugars and polysaccharide
constituents proportionally comparable to wastes from other citrus
sources. Pretreatment of GPW at 120 °C with 1% w/w NaOH for 15
min resulted in significant total solid losses due primarily to conversion
of glucans and lignin. Subsequent enzymatic bioconversion using the
recombinant E. coli lignocellulolytic
system resulted in production of 24, 11, and 14 g/kg solid biomass
for the respective glucose, cellobiose, and galacturonic acid products
from GPW over 24 h at 45 °C and pH 5.4. Other sugar products
(e.g., xylose, arabinose, galactose, mannose, and rhamnose) were also
detectable throughout the catalysis but at lower concentrations compared
with the main products.